Disposable toothbrush



P 4, 1951 A. GREENBERG 2,550,190

DISPOSABLE TOOTHBRUSH Filed June 22, 1949 I nventar Abra/1am Greenberg By A. WWW 8,,

Patented Apr. 24, 1951 YQUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- DISPOSABLE TOOTHBRUSH Abraham Greenberg, New York, N. Y. Application June 22, 1949, Serial No. 100,623

' Claims. 01. -135) This invention relates to novel and useful improvementsin a disposable toothbrush and more particularly pertains to an inexpensive toothbrush provided with a collapsible compartment for receiving and dispensing a dentifrice in an improved and economical manner. The principal object of this invention is to provide, a toothbrush of an inexpensive character having as a part thereof a storage and dispensing chamber for a dentifrice.

, A very important purpose of the invention is the'provision of an inexpensive toothbrush which is thus readily disposable after a single use, thus promoting oral hygiene, by eliminating a source of bacterial'contaminations by accumulation of food particles, caked dentifrice, etc.

Yet another object is the provision of a toothbrush incorporating therein a dentifrice-containing compartment, thus facilitating the cleansing of teeth and reducing the time required thereby, as well as providing a single compact article having all the necessary elements for properly and sanitarily cleaning the teeth and gums.

important feature of the inventionconsists of combining an inexpensive construction of toothbrush with a collapsible chamber containing a dentifrice together with means for dispensing the dentifrice, to the bristles of the brush upon collapsing of the chamber, accompanied by a sanitarysealing means of a frangible nature for retaining the dentifrice in a sanitar condition until the same is tobe used.

These, together with Various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds are attained by this invention, preferred embodiments of which have been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

c Figure I is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the combined toothbrush and dentifrice container;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the brush head shown in Figure 1, the hygienic sealing means being shown therein;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment of Figure 1 showing details of constructionof the same, the dentifrice chamber being shown in its expanded and fully loaded position with the hygienic sealing means in place;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the brush portion of the toothbrush of Figure 3, the dentifrice chamber being shown in its collapsedposition;

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane of the section line 55 of Figure 3 with the dentifrice chamber in its expanded position;

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane ofthe section line 6-41 of Figure 4 with the dentifrice chamber in its collapsed position;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the brush and dentifrice chamber part of the toothbrush, showing certain structural details of the same;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 3 but of a modification of the invention; and

Figure 9 is a vertical transverse sectional detail view taken substantially upon the plane of the section line 9-9 of Figure 8. V

Referringnow more specifically to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, it is to be understood that the drawings are not to be interpreted in a limiting sense but merely as explanatory of the principles of the invention. The basic concept of this invention is to combine with a toothbrush and the head thereof a dentifrice containing, collapsible chamber having an outlet for feeding dentifrice to the bristles of the brush upon collapsing of the chamber, together with a hygienic sealing means for closing the dispensing opening until the same is ready for use.,

Referring first to the embodiment of Figures 1-7, it will be seen that a conventional form of toothbrush handle I0 is provided at one end with a laterally enlarged head portion [2 provided with the customary two or more rows of bristles M for cleansing teeth and gums in the customary manner. The toothbrush and handle may be constructed of any desired material, but preferably the head, at least, is of a distortable character such as a suitable plastic, and between the rows of bristles is provided with a medially disposed, longitudinally extending slot I6 by means of which a dentifrice indicated by the numeral l8 may be forced from the receptacle formed by or contained within the hollow head to the bristles M for use thereby.

For this purpose, the head is preferably provided with a substantially wedge-shaped chamber as shown in Figure 3, this chamber having a lower wall 20 and an upper wall 2| having the afore-' junction with Figure '7, these open sides and outer end being closed by a'peripheral wall 22 of any suitable character such as rubber or the like, this wall being cemented or otherwise sealed to the upper and lower walls 2| and as shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. As shown best in Figure '7, it is contemplated that this wall shall have an inturned flange 24 at its upper end adapted to overlie the upper surface 2| of the toothbrush head, and to be sealed thereto, the lower surface or edge of the wall 22 being likewise inturned beneath the bottom surface or wall 23, as at 25.

An upstanding button 26 is formed on the outermost portion of the lower wall, 28 and is adapted to cooperate and engage with a corresponding recess or socket 28 on the lower surface of the upper wall2l to form a snap fastener whereby, when the dentifrice chamber is completely collapsed and the lower wall pressed upwardly into contact with the upper wall, the same may be retained in locked engagement as indicated in Figures 4 and 6.

overlying the discharge sealing means 30 which may be in the form of a strip of suitable adhesive, or the like, and which is provided with a tab 32 by means of which the same may be grasped and ripped from the toothbrush to permit discharge of the dentifrice through the slot [6.

slot [6 is a hygienic When the dentifrice chamber is filled as in Fi ure 3, the collapsible wall 22 will be in its distended position as shown in Figures 3 and 5. In order to use the device, it is merely necessary to remove the seal 38, whereupon the bottom wall 20 may be compressed or flexed upwardly, thereby discharging the contents of the dentifrice container through the slot G6 to the base of the bristles Hi. When the bottom wall 29 is compressed or flexed upwardly, the snap fastener 25 engages in the socket 28 and maintains the upper and lower walls 2| and 20 in close opposition, as in Fig. 4 and Fig. 6, so that the bulk of the brush head in the mouth is greatly reduced and so that the dentifrice cannot flow back into the dentifrice chamber.

- The principles of the invention lend themselves to various modifications, one of which i illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. In this arrangement, the handle portion 5E! 0f the toothbrush is provided with a head portion 52 which is slotted, as at 54, to permit the discharge of a dentifrice 55 to the roots or bases of the bristles 58. As in the preceding embodiment, the hygienic seal 60 having a tab 62 is secured as by adhesive or the like to the brush head 52 over the slot 54. The chamber containing the dentifrice 56 is formed by a distortable member 62 which may be a sheet-like plastic or rubber and which is secured at its upper edge, as by inturning the same as at 66, and securing it to the upper surface of the brush head 52,

The operation of this form of the invention is substantially identical with that set forth above, except for the absence of the snap fastener for retaining the deformable lower wall of the dentifrice containing chamber in its collapsed position. This latter form of the invention lends itself to a more inexpensive construction, since the entire toothbrush handle and head are formed of one piece and a single thickness of material, the chamber being formed by a sheet secured to and depending from the head of the brush.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is' not desired to limit the invention to the exact constructions shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus disclosed and described the inven tion, what is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A toothbrush including a head of bendable material, having bristles thereof, a longitudinal slot in said head defining first and second walls, the adjacent surfaces of said first and second walls being inclined to define a wedge-shaped chamber therebetween, a collapsible side wall secured to said first and second walls, a longitudinal slot through said first wall extending into said chamber and between said bristles, said second wall being bendable to discharge the contents of said chamber onto said bristles.

2. The combination of claim 1 including a hygienic seal closing said longitudinal slot through said first wall.

3. The combination of claim 1 including a snap fastener connected to said first and second walls for retaining the same in their fully collapsed position.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said snap fastener includes detachable elements secured to the adjacent surfaces of said first and second walls.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said collapsible side walls have flanges secured to opposite surfaces of said first and second walls.

ABRAHAM GREENBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,811,833 Simon June 23, 1931 1,947,722 Laub Feb. 20, 1934 

